FRIENDSWOOD, Texas – A woman has accused a police officer of crossing the line at a child's birthday party.
Jennifer Elkins admitted adults were drinking at her 6-year-old niece's birthday party at an apartment complex on Saturday, but she said that did not justify an off-duty officer's actions.
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Elkins said Officer Chris Ryan used excessive force after she scolded his daughter for using foul language around a pool.
Cellphone video shot by one of Elkins' friends shows Ryan wrestling with Elkins' fiance after Ryan tried to arrest his brother on an intoxication charge.
Elkins said her fiance, Cory Wilhite, never touched Ryan and did not try to resist arrest. She said she began screaming when Ryan, who works off-duty at the apartment complex as a security guard, began choking Wilhite.
"The security guy, you could smell alcohol on his breath," Elkins said. "His eyes were bloodshot, and the look on his face; all I could think about is he's fixing to kill my fiance."
In the melee, Ryan and Wihite fell over. Elkins went with them, hitting the concrete face-first. She was knocked out cold.
"Next thing I know, apparently I'm on the ground," Elkins said. "I don't know what happened after that."
Others who were there claimed a woman with Ryan tried to confiscate the video, but the owner wrestled it away from her.
Wilhite was charged with public intoxication, a class-C misdemeanor. Both he and Elkins were treated at a hospital for their injuries.
Friendswood Police Chief Robert Weiners said Ryan was doing his duty, trying to quell a drunken disturbance.
Internal affairs investigators are reviewing the video. Weiners said they have not found any evidence that Ryan was also drinking.
Police said Wilhite could face additional charges, and others at the party may also be charged.